Difference between revisions of "Expressing "originally" with "benlai""
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| − | + | There are a number of ways to express "[[originally]]" in Chinese, but 本来 (běnlái) is likely the first one you learn, partly because its two characters are so simple. | |
[[Category:**URGENT**]] | [[Category:**URGENT**]] | ||
| − | == | + | == Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans == |
| − | 本来 | + | If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means "originally." Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional. |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | |||
| − | Subj. + 本来 + | + | Subj. + 本来 + 是 +（不）要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的，但是 / 可是 ... |
| + | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | |
| − | * | + | *我<em>本来</em> 是 要 去 的，不过 后来 不 太 舒服，就 没 去。<span class="trans">I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well. </span> |
| − | * | + | *他<em>本来</em>是 应该 考 得 更 好 的，可是 那天 他 生病 了。<span class="trans">He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.</span> |
| − | * | + | *我们 <em>本来</em> 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的，可是 他 那么 忙，就 没 去。<span class="trans">We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.</span> |
| − | * | + | *这些 工作<em>本来</em> 是 要 今天 做完 的，不过 明天 做 也 可以。<span class="trans">This work needs to be done by today. But it's Ok to leave it to tomorrow.</span> |
| + | * 我 <em>本来</em> 要 跟 他 结婚 的，可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。<span class="trans">I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Using | + | == Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint == |
| − | If | + | If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it "should be" or "should not be," then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone. |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + 本来 + | + | Subj. + 本来 + 就... |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | *你<em>本来</em> 就 够 瘦 了 ，还要 减肥 吗？<span class="trans">You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?</span> | |
| − | * | + | *他 讲 得 <em>本来</em>就 不 对 ，为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的？<span class="trans">What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?</span> |
| − | *他<em>本来</em> | + | *她 <em>本来</em> 就 很 有钱，当然 买得起 了。<span class="trans">She is rich. Of course she can afford it.</span> |
| − | * | + | *她 <em>本来</em> 就 不 喜欢 你，你 别 再 追 她 了。<span class="trans">She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 他 <em>本来</em> 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑，你 别 介意 。<span class="trans">He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.</span> |
| − | * | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == | + | == 本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!" == |
| − | + | 本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It could also be translated to "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation. | |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj. | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| − | Subj. + | + | <div class="jiegou"> |
| − | + | Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb | |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | * 照顾 孩子 <em>本来</em> 就 是 父母 的 责任。<span class="trans">Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents. </span> |
| − | * | + | * 老师 <em>本来</em> 就 应该 好好 备课。<span class="trans">Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well. </span> |
| − | + | * 美国 人 <em>本来</em> 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。<span class="expl">Literally, "Americans are supposed to speak fluent English."</span><span class="trans">Well of course Americans speak fluent English. </span> | |
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
| + | * 搬家 <em>本来</em> 就 很 麻烦。<span class="expl">Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."</span><span class="trans">Moving is always a pain.</span> | ||
| + | * 生活 <em>本来</em> 就 很 不 容易。<span class="expl">Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."</span><span class="trans">No one ever said life was easy.</span> | ||
[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 01:01, 10 February 2017
There are a number of ways to express "originally" in Chinese, but 本来 (běnlái) is likely the first one you learn, partly because its two characters are so simple.
Contents
Using 本来是 (běnlái shì) Expresses a Change of Plans
If something happened unexpectedly later, 本来 is preferred rather than 原来 considering there is a change of the original situation. 本来 means "originally." Since the action has already happened, the pattern 是... 的 is suggested here. 是 is optional.
Structure
Subj. + 本来 + 是 +（不）要 / 会 / 应该 + Verb + 的，但是 / 可是 ...
Examples
- 我本来 是 要 去 的，不过 后来 不 太 舒服，就 没 去。I was originally going, but I didn't go because I didn't feel very well.
- 他本来是 应该 考 得 更 好 的，可是 那天 他 生病 了。He would have done better on the test, but he was sick that day.
- 我们 本来 想 去 找 他 帮忙 的，可是 他 那么 忙，就 没 去。We were going to ask him for help, but we didn't because he was so busy.
- 这些 工作本来 是 要 今天 做完 的，不过 明天 做 也 可以。This work needs to be done by today. But it's Ok to leave it to tomorrow.
- 我 本来 要 跟 他 结婚 的，可是 后来 发现 了 我们 真的 不 合适。I was originally going to marry him, but then I found that we are just not meant for each other.
Using 本来就 (běnlái jiù) Used for Emphasis of a Viewpoint
If you've got an opinion to express after stating how it "should be" or "should not be," then 本来就 will help you sound more convincing. The end of the sentence usually has an imperative or rhetorical question that leads to an opinion or suggestion, emphasizing the tone.
Structure
Subj. + 本来 + 就...
Examples
- 你本来 就 够 瘦 了 ，还要 减肥 吗？You are already so thin and you still want to lose weight?
- 他 讲 得 本来就 不 对 ，为什么 还 要 我 听 他 的？What he says has always been wrong, so why do you still want me to listen to him?
- 她 本来 就 很 有钱，当然 买得起 了。She is rich. Of course she can afford it.
- 她 本来 就 不 喜欢 你，你 别 再 追 她 了。She never liked you in the first place, so stop pursuing her.
- 他 本来 就 很 喜欢 开玩笑，你 别 介意 。He has always liked joking around, so don't take it personally.
本来 (běnlái) with 就 (jiù) to Express "Duh!"
本来 (běnlái) is used when the speaker believes something is common sense. There are certain expectations for the speaker and listener. "Duh" is probably an overly saracastic and informal English equivalent, so another translation could be "it goes without saying." It could also be translated to "supposed to," following it with a certain expectation.
Structure
Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 很 / 不 + Adj.
Subj. + 本来 + 就 + 会 / 要 / 得 / 应该 + Verb
Examples
- 照顾 孩子 本来 就 是 父母 的 责任。Taking care of children is supposed to be the responsibility of parents.
- 老师 本来 就 应该 好好 备课。Teachers are supposed to prepare their lessons well.
- 美国 人 本来 就 会 说 流利 的 英文。Literally, "Americans are supposed to speak fluent English."Well of course Americans speak fluent English.
- 搬家 本来 就 很 麻烦。Literally, "Moving is supposed to be troublesome."Moving is always a pain.
- 生活 本来 就 很 不 容易。Literally, "Life was never supposed to be easy."No one ever said life was easy.
